We are getting married! ❤️

We met on June 4, 2004. It was an instant connection. We celebrate our anniversary on June 4th every year. There have been special dinners, weekends at various hotels and vacations that coincided with our anniversary. In 2017, we took a vacation in Cancun to celebrate our anniversary. Jason notified the hotel that we were celebrating this event. Upon arrival our room was decorated with rose petals, and champagne and fruit tray. It was lovely! Jason also arranged a private airplane tour of Tulum, Chichen Itza and the Yucatán Peninsula. It was unforgettable! Instead of dining at the hotel that night, Jason announced that we were going to a restaurant in town. We dressed up and went downstairs to arrange for transportation. Jason left his sunglasses in the room and ran back up to retrieve them. I thought he got distracted because he hadn’t returned after 10 mins. Ten minutes turned into 20. I began to worry that we may miss our ride and dinner reservations. Just then, Jason appeared in the lobby and looked a bit flushed. He explained that he had mixed up our dinner plans and our reservation wasn’t for another hour. Upon approaching our room, Jason opened the door but waited in the doorway so I could enter first. I couldn’t believe my eyes! The entire room was decorated with balloons, rose petals, a photographer took pictures and there was a banner which read, “Will you marry me?,” attached to the curtain rod. A small table held greeting cards and gifts upon it. Wow! After I picked my jaw up off the floor, Jason proceeded to tell me the most beautiful things about our relationship, his feelings for me and got down on one knee and proposed. Of course I said, “YES!” As it turned out, Jason previosly asked my family for permission and his family also was aware of his big plan. Congratulatory cards in tow, I felt as though our families were there watching and holding their breath. I was completely surprised and delighted. How did I get so blessed?!

We experienced one tragedy after another beginning in the fall of 2017. Jason’s beloved Aunt Imogene’s Congestive Heart Failure progressed to end-of-life stage shortly after the New Year. She now required 24 hour care and was placed in hospice. Jason’s Grandfather struggled while watching his older sister’s steady decline. A short while later, Jason’s Grandfather injured his shoulder as he lifted a bag of pellets for a stove to warm their home. He spent a few days in hospital and within 36 hours of being released Jason’s Grandfather died by his own hand. A week or so later, Imogene took her last breath and never knew her younger brother preceeded her in death. Jason's Father began to suffer with depression; he missed his Father so. Jason’s Father’s health took a devastating turn in April and May. Jimmy battled alcoholism his entire adult life. This disease destroyed his liver to the point it could no longer regenerate healthy tissue. Jimmy passed away in July at the age of 62. I am grateful that I was with Jason and his Father when he transitioned. 2019 would surely be better. With as much optimism as we could muster, we picked a new Wedding date.

I was away from home on Business travel. I flew, drove and traveled by train more in the past three years than the last 7 years with my former employer. It has taken a toll on me (and Jason) in more ways than one. After the deaths in Jason’s family in 2017, Jason’s Mother and Stepfather agreed to relocate from California to Colorado in April 2018. In this way, they could help Jason manage his family’s hobby ranch and care for his Grandmother who lived alone for the first time in her life. Becki and Roy were eager to spend more time with family especially Justin and Michelle's little ones, Torrington, Dixon and Roland. Roy, began unintentionally losing weight in 2016. While under a doctor’s care for diabetes and related conditions, Roy was yet to be diagnosed with an ailment which caused his rapid weight loss. I was in Connecticut hosting a client site visit upon receipt of Jason’s call and text that Roy was found unresponsive and could not be revived. Roy had just turned 59 several days before.

I have plenty of time to pull everything together for our Wedding. If time stood still for 2 days at least twice a month maybe my last minute approach would serve me well. We are carrying on one week, one day, one task or three at a time.

61 days and counting! 😳

I feel as if the tides turned today. I received my first round of proofs of our Invitation collection. I must give a shout out to Rubi and Lib. Every piece looks gorgeous! Our (my) color palette, style; I am so impressed. I cannot wait to finalize the package and mail to my guests. I hope my excitement is contagious. I also hope to get at least 4 to 5 solid hours of sleep tonight.